Thursday, January 10, 2013

Woot! Great news for Costco Teamsters (UPDATE)

Good advice

(UPDATES with more information from press statement)

Teamsters International Vice President Rome Aloise posted this on Facebook:

Costco contract for California, NY, NJ, VA, MD, tentatively settled last night. One of our more significant contracts as we changed some systemic areas that have been in place since the Price Club days. The economics keep the Teamsters Costco members the highest paid retail workers in the country by a significant amount. This is the 10th one I have negotiated, and perhaps the most difficult. Non-Union Costco workers will benefit by our members resolve, but they have no right to have a say or vote. The next step is the contract will go out to ratification. Thank you to the members for supporting the bargaining team, and thank you to the bargaining team for doing a great job.

A press statement has just been issued with more detail:

The tentative three-year agreement provides for an improved grievance procedure, wage increases for each year of the contract and strengthened seniority language. The ballots for the tentative agreement will be counted on Feb. 19. The current three-year contract expires on Jan. 31.

“Costco employees know that being a Teamster means strong representation at the bargaining table, and this new agreement is the proof,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “Costco is a good example of a thriving company that is powered by a strong union workforce, which shares in its success.”

The Teamsters Union represents almost 15,000 Costco workers at 55 locations in California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. Costco’s average pay is more than 42 percent higher than its rival Sam’s Club, which is owned by Walmart. Costco’s unionized workforce, with strong wages and benefits, results in low turnover and higher-skilled employees at the company.